Record rainfall drenched Southern California on Christmas Eve, producing flooding, mudslides and widespread evacuations in communities such as Wrightwood. Dozens of people were rescued and more than 120 responders worked overnight; Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency and over 100,000 customers lost power. The National Weather Service said daily rainfall records were broken and warned of more heavy rain, flash flooding and mudslide risk through Friday. The storms were linked to at least two deaths, and travel disruptions and road closures were widespread.
Record Christmas Eve Rain Drenches Southern California — Evacuations, Rescues and State Of Emergency
Images posted on X by the Victor Valley Sheriff's Station show deputies responding to calls during the flooding in in San Bernardino, Calif. (@VictorVlyStn / via X)
Record rainfall battered Southern California on Christmas Eve, triggering widespread flooding, mudslides and evacuations across mountain and urban communities. Emergency crews conducted dozens of rescues as rivers of mud and water swept through neighborhoods and roads.
Wrightwood Rescues And Damage Assessments
"At least dozens" of people were rescued overnight in Wrightwood, a community in the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles, according to Christopher Prater, public information officer for the San Bernardino County Fire Department. There were no reported deaths in Wrightwood, though one child was taken to the hospital with a minor injury.
More than 120 emergency responders worked through the night performing rescues and damage assessments. County video showed muddy water and debris rushing past cabins nestled among pine trees.
A man walks in downtown Los Angeles during heavy rain on Wednesday. (Apu Gomes / AFP via Getty Images)
"It was pretty dynamic," Prater said, noting crews were still compiling rescue totals. "They’re providing life-safety first and trying to divert the water and mud and debris flows as best we can to help properties."
State Response And Widespread Impacts
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency as the storm system slammed Southern California. At the height of the outage on Thursday afternoon, more than 100,000 customers across the state were without power.
The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that daily rainfall records for Christmas Eve were broken at several locations, including Los Angeles International Airport, Hollywood Burbank Airport, Oxnard and Woodland Hills. Some foothill areas near Los Angeles received as much as 10 inches of rain.
Forecast And Hazards
Forecasters warned of two additional rounds of heavy rain — with showers and the chance of thunderstorms — through Friday. The Weather Prediction Center issued a moderate risk of excessive rainfall over parts of Southern California from Christmas into Friday morning, noting flash flooding was possible.
Traffic is diverted off a flooded I-5 freeway that has been closed for hours in Los Angeles on Wednesday. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
"The potential for flooding will be high during this period," forecasters wrote. Any new rain is likely to run off quickly, increasing the risk of flash floods, rockslides and mudslides — especially in urban areas, near small streams and in regions scarred by past wildfires.
Fatalities And Human Toll
The storms were linked to at least two deaths on Wednesday. In San Diego, a man identified by relatives as Roberto Ruiz suffered cardiac arrest after a large branch fell and struck him when a tree splintered, NBC San Diego reported. Ruiz had stepped outside to move his car before the branch hit.
In Sacramento County, sheriff’s deputy James Caravallo died in what appeared to be a weather-related crash while driving to work, the sheriff’s office said in a post on X. "Deputy Caravallo was a dedicated employee who proudly served our agency for 19 years," the office wrote.
Skies cleared over the Fourth Street Bridge after heavy rains in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday. (Apu Gomes / AFP via Getty Images)
Transportation Disruptions
Videos and traffic reports showed highways clogged with water, mud and debris and buildings shedding heavy runoff. The storms forced lane and highway closures in Los Angeles and Ventura counties; debris temporarily blocked northbound I-5 at Lankershim Boulevard. In Northern California, the state Department of Transportation closed State Route 99 from Garden Brook Drive to Keefer Road due to flooding.
Elsewhere: Northeast Winter Storms
On the other side of the country, the NWS forecast snow and ice across parts of the Northeast through Saturday. Sections of Pennsylvania faced an ice storm warning, while portions of southern Connecticut, northeast New Jersey and southeast New York were under winter storm warnings with up to 8 inches possible. New York City was forecast to receive about 7 inches. The NWS cautioned an icy mix of freezing rain and sleet could cause hazardous travel from Michigan eastward into the Mid-Atlantic.
Safety Tip: Avoid driving through flooded roads, heed evacuation orders, and stay updated with local officials and the National Weather Service.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com.
